Chapter 126: A Turn of Events
Gu Lan's expression darkened further. This pale pink diamond-patterned satin winter coat had been gifted to her by Second Madam just yesterday, along with two other outfits.
She had worn Second Madam's gift intending to please her, never expecting her to have set such a trap!
Second Madam was deliberately finding fault with her. If she wore the coat, she'd be accused of breaking rules. If she didn't, she'd likely be accused of looking down on Second Madam and rejecting her gift.
Glancing at Jinchao's ivory skirt embroidered with branch patterns, Gu Lan thought resentfully—Gu Jinzhao was wearing colored patterned skirts too, yet Second Madam turned a blind eye. Wasn't this clearly targeting her? Besides, who in these deep courtyards would even notice what she wore? Pale pink wasn't even that bright!
Suppressing her anger, she could only say, "It was my oversight... Second Aunt is right to reprimand me."
Second Madam gave a curt hum, her displeasure lingering. "Since you've erred, I must punish you. Your grandmother loves using osmanthus dew to wash her hands. There are some late-blooming osmanthus trees near Fifth Aunt's place in the western courtyard—go pick some to make the dew. Don't let me catch you slacking off or tricking others into helping you again."
Gu Lan bowed in acknowledgment. After attending to Second Madam, she went alone to gather osmanthus blossoms, carrying a pearwood box.
It was already late autumn. The osmanthus flowers were sparse, their fragrance faint. After gathering for what felt like ages, she'd only collected a thin layer. By the time darkness fell, her hands were numb with cold before she finally reported back to Second Madam and left.
Mu Jin waited anxiously for her return, only to see Second Miss's hands red and her entire demeanor exhausted. She quickly helped Gu Lan sit on the heated kang: "I've lit the brazier for you, but it'll take a while to warm up. Why don't you soak your feet in hot water first?"
She then called loudly for the two maids, telling them to heat water. After a long wait, one maid finally shuffled in with an empty kettle: "Sister Mu Jin, starting the fire now would take too long. Why not boil it over the brazier?"
Though Mu Jin usually appeared gentle, her scolding was merciless: "You're just being lazy! The brazier is for the young mistress's warmth—how can we boil water on it? Same as this morning. All of you claimed your legs hurt too much to get up, yet when the steward came with supplies at noon, you all ran faster than rabbits! Go heat the water properly, or you'll be kneeling outside as punishment!"
The maid muttered under her breath, "My legs really hurt this morning... but they felt better by noon..."
Mu Jin grew even angrier: "How dare you talk back! Seems you need a beating. Should I report you to Mother Dong tomorrow for a proper whipping?"
At the mention of Mother Dong, the maid finally fell silent. She took the kettle and left the western chamber.
Gu Lan watched the maid's retreating figure coldly before asking quietly, "That's Chunjiang, isn't it...?"
Mu Jin softened her voice again: "Young mistress, don't trouble yourself with these people. I'll keep watch over them. No matter how bold they are, they wouldn't dare disobey you." She then discreetly slipped an envelope from her sleeve into Gu Lan's hand. "This is the reply letter..."
Gu Lan frowned. "When Grandmother sent letters before, there were always one or two banknotes or other items enclosed. Why is there nothing this time?"Mu Jin didn't know either. The item had been passed to her by a vegetable delivery laborer—it wasn't impossible that the laborer had taken it.
She picked up the candlestick from the small table so Gu Lan could see more clearly. Gu Lan scraped off the wax seal with a small knife before taking out the letter to read.
As she read, a smile gradually appeared on Gu Lan's face. She then folded the letter and burned it with the candle flame.
Mu Jin was puzzled. What could the letter possibly say to make Second Miss smile like that?
After a while, Gu Lan finally spoke, "No wonder she didn't send anything. Nothing is needed now..." Noticing Mu Jin still staring at her, Gu Lan continued, "Grandmother is sharing good news with me. The former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review retired last month due to old age. Do you remember?"
No matter how clever Mu Jin was, she was still just a maid with limited perspective. Court affairs were something she'd never be involved in—how could she remember such news? She shook her head honestly, "Miss, you know how foolish this servant is!"
Gu Lan said leisurely, "With Lord An leaving his position as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the post is now vacant. Grandfather has always been close with Lord Chen. After Lord Chen entered the Grand Secretariat, he proposed Grandfather for the position. Now the imperial appointment has officially come through... Grandfather is now a third-rank official wearing the five-beam crown and golden leather belt! The highest-ranking uncle in the Gu family is only a fourth-rank Right Assistant Censor—just wait and see how they'll try to curry favor with me!"
She smiled at Mu Jin and whispered, "Grandmother said she'll visit me after the mourning ceremonies these next few days."
Once she had Song Furen's backing, she'd make sure everyone in the Gu family who bullied, looked down on, or slighted her—including Gu Jinzhao—would regret it!
During Madam Feng's absence, Jinzhao took the opportunity to reorganize the greenhouse in the back house.
A proper greenhouse required glass windows, or at least translucent Korean paper as an alternative. Glass was too expensive, and she couldn't justify using it. It wasn't that she lacked silver—it just wouldn't be proper to keep spending her own money in the Gu household. After pasting Korean paper and installing the underfloor heating system, she thoroughly cleaned the greenhouse and planted autumn wormwood and cold orchids. Jinzhao had just borrowed a chrysanthemum manual from Tai Furen's study. She hadn't grown many chrysanthemums in her past life, so she still needed to learn.
Cao Ying helped with the soil preparation. Staring at the nearly identical chrysanthemum seedlings, she asked curiously, "How can you tell them apart, miss? They all look the same to me. What varieties are these?"
Jinzhao explained, "Just Red Fat Petal, Chestnut Yellow, Silver Hydrangea, and Green Lotus Robe—not hard to remember."
Caifu teased her, "Just wait until miss plants camellias—that's when you'll really have a headache!" Cao Ying, now in charge of the greenhouse with another young maid, felt proud to have responsibility.
In the midst of their busy work, Mama Tong came with news. Madam Feng and Fifth Madam had returned from the capital. Fifth Madam, being pregnant, had gone to rest in the eastern courtyard, while Madam Feng had summoned Second Madam for a talk.
After delivering the message, Mama Tong added, "...and both young masters were called too."
...It seemed she wouldn't need to pay respects today.Jinchao enjoyed the peace and quiet. After tidying up the greenhouse and working up a sweat, she felt refreshed after bathing. She then did some needlework with her maids for a while. Concubine Luo came to chat with her. Now living in the western annex, while Jinchao resided in the Beautiful Embroidery Hall between the western and eastern annexes, and Gu Dezhao stayed in the outer courtyard, visits between them were quite inconvenient.
As Gu Dezhao was in mourning, Concubine Luo could only make brief visits when she went to see him. Having no one to talk to here, she felt increasingly anxious. Fortunately, she gradually became acquainted with one of Gu Wuye's concubines, which eased her loneliness.
Now that they were at the ancestral home, she had to be mindful of her status and couldn't frequently visit Gu Jinzhao. This sudden visit was rather unusual.
Jinchao had a maid serve tea to Concubine Luo. Holding the cup, she sat uneasily for a long time before finally speaking: "...Tai Furen often summons me, inquiring about my menstrual cycle and sending many tonics. I felt I should inform you. Last time I went, I saw Shui Ying and Biyue, the girls serving the master, also being called in for talks."
During mourning, men were generally not supposed to have intimate relations with women. But this rule was often ignored, with many concubines and bedroom servant girls becoming pregnant during mourning, only announcing it afterward. This was common among noble families, let alone commoners.
However, Madam Feng's eagerness made Jinchao slightly uncomfortable. It seemed she had no regard for Madam Ji's death.
The Gu family had always been small in number, with only three legitimate sons and two illegitimate ones. Second Master Gu was already middle-aged, and Gu Wuye had Fifth Madam, the legitimate daughter of Marquis Changxing's household, making it impossible to casually take concubines. Thus, Madam Feng's attention naturally turned to Gu Dezhao.
Once her father's year of mourning ended—or perhaps even after just nine months—Madam Feng would likely start arranging a new wife for him.
Someone like Madam Feng wouldn't ask about preferences or feelings.
But as a junior, Jinchao had no place to speak up. Luo Su was likely afraid Madam Feng would elevate Shui Ying and Biyue to concubines, or worse, that they might become pregnant... which would leave her in a precarious position. Hence, she came seeking help.
This woman was slowly developing her own schemes.
Jinchao glanced at her and said, "This is not something I can interfere with, nor should you concern yourself with it. Now that my mother is gone, no one is making winter clothes for my father. You might as well take care of that—it would be for the best."
Luo Su understood Jinchao's meaning and blushed, saying, "...I overthought things." She soon took her leave.
Jinchao personally selected two bolts of high-quality, subtly colored fabric and sent them to Concubine Luo for making winter clothes, ensuring she wouldn't idle and overthink.
Just as she finished choosing the fabric, Mama Tong returned in a hurry.
Jinchao smiled and asked, "What's the matter? You seem in such a rush."
Mama Tong shook her head and replied softly with a smile, "Eldest Miss, isn't this strange? Less than an hour after Tai Furen returned home, someone came with a visiting card requesting an audience—it's Madam Song, wife of Assistant Minister Song... from our former Concubine Song's family."Jinchao raised a brow slightly, feeling somewhat surprised. After being driven out by Father last time, Song Furen should have lost all face to come to the Gu family again. Moreover, with Concubine Song now gone, if she still dared to interfere in Gu Lan's affairs and support her, that would be utterly unreasonable!
...Song Furen must have gained some new leverage! Only then would she dare to come swaggering to the Gu residence with such confidence.
But what exactly was this leverage?
A bad premonition stirred in Jinchao's heart.
She knew Madam Feng's temperament all too well. Whoever benefited her would be treated with kindness and favor. If the Song family were to back Gu Lan from behind the scenes in the future, Gu Lan would surely become uncontrollably arrogant.
PS:
Second update, perhaps a third one tonight—I'm about to go all out, woohoo! Seeking pink votes, mwah~
OpenNovel